Chiefs' Newest Jersey Numbers Lack Important Clarification

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kenneth Walker got his familiar No. 9, and new safety Alohi Gilman will don 17 for the Chiefs. Meanwhile, when nose tackle Khyiris Tonga enters the offensive huddle in short-yardage situations, referees will announce him as No. 92.

Tyquan Thornton will change from 80 to 2, the first time he’s worn that single digit in an organized game. New slot cornerback Kader Kohou will begin his Kansas City career in 26.

But Justin Fields still doesn’t have a number. And while the NFL reportedly won’t schedule the Chiefs in Seattle to open the 2026 season because of uncertainty surrounding Patrick Mahomes’ return, Fields could be Kansas City’s Week 1 starter.

The 11th-overall pick in the 2021 draft, Fields joined the Bears in Matt Nagy’s final season as Chicago head coach. He immediately donned his familiar No. 1. That’s the number Fields wore at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Ga., and throughout college at Georgia and Ohio State.

Pittsburgh tradition forced change

Circumstances changed when Chicago traded him to Pittsburgh before the 2024 season. Pittsburgh cares deeply about precedent and didn’t want one player to appear more important than the team. The only Steelers player to wear No. 1 was kicker Gary Anderson.

When the quarterback signed as a free agent with the Jets, Sauce Gardner had No. 1, Tyrod Taylor had No. 2, and Fields wanted a fresh start. He chose 7, the number Boomer Esiason and Ken O’Brien wore in New York.

But Harrison Butker has No. 7 in Kansas City and, besides, Fields could benefit from a different number considering his lone season in New York went poorly. And because the Chiefs have already given Thornton No. 2, they’ve yet to publicly announce Fields’ number.

So, as Fields joins his fourth NFL team in four years, he’s also looking at his fourth uniform number in four years.

Financial ramifications involved in potential swap

Unless the Chiefs’ familiar No. 1, wide receiver Xavier Worthy, would consider giving up the number. If Worthy is entertaining that thought, moving to a different number might make the 5-11, 165-pound wideout look a little larger. Wearing No. 1 does nothing for his lack of girth.

But Worthy has worn No. 1 most of his football life, including his time at Central East High School in Fresno, Calif. He wore No. 8 over his first two seasons at Texas (2021-22), but shifted to his preferred No. 1 prior to the 2022 Alamo Bowl after Hudson Card transferred. While he was in No. 8, Worthy led the Big 12 in touchdown receptions both in 2021 and '22.

Veteran cornerback Kristian Fulton currently owns No. 8 for the Chiefs, so he’d be involved should Worthy want to go back to 8. Fulton wore 7 with the Chargers and 26 with the Titans (Kohou has 26 in Kansas City, however). It’d be an NBA-style multi-party trade, unless Andy Reid puts his foot down.

Some sort of financial agreement with Worthy and Fulton would be involved for Fields to return to No. 1. And keep in mind that Worthy is scheduled to make just over $2 million in salary as part of his rookie contract. Between the Jets and Chiefs, who reportedly agreed on a respective 70-30 split to cover Fields’ guaranteed $10 million in 2026, Fields is certainly in position to talk serious turkey with Worthy.

xavier worth — Oct 15, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy (8) catches a pass over Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Darien Porter (10) during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Most likely solution

But the most likely conclusion for Fields is a brand-new number.

It won’t be 3. That one is retired to honor Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud. But it certainly could be 5 or 6. Hollywood Brown had that number the last two years in Kansas City but he’s now in Philadelphia (where he switched to No. 0).

And if Fields chooses 6, he’ll take over the number worn by safety Bryan Cook. Cincinnati signed Cook as an unrestricted free agent.